Ariadne

Early in the story, Ariadne mentions women either shrinking away like Pasiphae or taking vengeance like Medusa in reaction to injustice. Explore how women in the novel respond to mistreatment. Where do Ariadne, Phaedra, and other female figures ultimately fall on this spectrum?

Daedalus is exceptional among the male characters in this novel; he is skilled and widely admired, including by Ariadne and Phaedra, and yet he is not depicted as cruel or fame-seeking. Examine his character and how he differs from other men in the novel. Are the sisters’ assessments of him trustworthy?

In Chapter 21, Dionysus denounces the gods and epic heroes for their cruel ways. Are his words here sincere? Where does the shift in his nature occur that leads to the disaster in Argos, and why?

Phaedra does not take to motherhood with nearly the same ease and joy as her sister. Why might this be? Explore how differences in their personalities and upbringings might explain this, and compare the different depictions of motherhood throughout the novel.

There is a sense of inevitability in this story, as though fate is driving the characters. Does the novel suggest that Ariadne and Phaedra could have avoided their tragic endings? What does this suggest?

Though Ariadne is horrified by her husband’s “blood rites,” she tries to justify them out of compassion for the maenads. What does the novel suggest the women find in these rituals?

Throughout the novel, Jennifer Saint draws attention to the ambiguity of myths and the fact that there are many sides to every story. However, Saint changes few of the narrative details of these stories (allowing for the fact that different versions of the myths exist). Where then does Saint suggest the ambiguity lies?

Despite Ariadne’s initial resentment of Perseus for his use of Medusa’s head, she describes an “understanding” that passes between the two of them. Analyze why Ariadne empathizes with Perseus.